The Andy Smiles Forever Foundation

Protecting Hearts, Saving Lives

The Andy Smile Forever Foundation with the support from Vicky O’Rourke, a lawyer and mother from Darien CT whose nephew was saved from a potentially deadly cardiac event, proposed and lobbied Sudden Cardiac Arrest legislation in Connecticut, which mandates SCA awareness education program from students involved in athletics and requires coaches to annually review SCA prevention materials prior to coaching.

Our special thanks to State Senators Bob Duff, Carlo Leone, Dante Bartolomeo, Martin Looney, Anthony Musto and Andres Ayala who enthusiastically supported our proposed legislation (Senate Bill 229). Also to Representative Terrie Wood from Darien, who was instrumental in achieving bipartisan support and spoke on our behalf at the hearings.

On June 6, 2014 CT Congress passed Public Act No. 14-93: "AN ACT CONCERNING SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION” which was signed by Governor Dannel P. Malloy. Our family was honored to attend the signing of this important piece of legislation in our state.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a potentially deadly condition that can strike even seemingly healthy young people without warning. Act 14-93 will help save young lives in Connecticut.For more on Act 14-93 click: